How JustAnswer Works:

Experts are full of valuable knowledge and are ready to help with any question. Credentials confirmed by a Fortune 500 verification firm.

Get a Professional Answer

Via email, text message, or notification as you wait on our site.Ask follow up questions if you need to.

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Rate the answer you receive.

Ask Ryan LCSW Your Own Question

Ryan LCSW, Mental Health

Category: Mental Health

Satisfied Customers: 872

Experience: Individual and Family Therapist

16045978

Type Your Mental Health Question Here...

Ryan LCSW is online now

My son Mitchell age 8 has just been put on report at school.

Resolved Question:

My son Mitchell age 8 has just been put on report at school. He is a very angry boy for some reason ,has a terrible temper and lashes out at anyone who he feels annoys him.

Our family is a loving and caring family , Mitchell is a very talented footballer and an exceptional sportsperson for his age winning many medals and trophies but argues all the time about homework and whilst he can do most of the work he is very lazy and dislikes schoolwork but loves the sports side. He is a good looking boy with a fabulous personality when he is not angry and is a very lucky boy as we are a well healed family and he has all the IT gadgets he wants along with very loving and doting grandparents who spoil him .We are very concerned about him and wonder if we need to see a child psychologist to discuss where we go from here.

Thanks for your question. My name is XXXXX XXXXX I'd like to help you out.

I'm sorry to hear about your son's anger problems, he obviously comes from a very loving family. It sounds like he is a great boy in a lot of ways, and considering his many successes in other areas, I would anticipate that he will eventually be able to overcome these problems. It is not uncommon for exceptional young athletes to start to feel entitled, lash out, and to struggle with things that they don't enjoy, such as school work. In some ways he is probably extremely well adjusted and intelligent, but it also sounds like he lacks some impulse control and self discipline.

It's good to hear that removing the TV and stopping his football training for a week worked. Despite the fact that he reverted, that approach generally does eventually start to work if you are able to be firm, consistant, and stick with it. I know you mentioned that he has all of the IT gadgets that he wants, which is fine, however these are also things that you can remove if he continues to be defiant. Once you start removing things as consequences on a regular basis, it is possible that he may get more defiant before he improves. However he will start to learn the overall lesson that he does not get to have the rewards in life if he does not do his work and treat people respectfully. A lot of time threats of removing him from school or taking certain things away won't work until you actually do it and he sees that you are serious. While you may not have to resort to actions so drastic, you may have to take something away from him that matters to him in that moment as opposed to saying what you will take away. From what you described, it sounds like you are on the right track, and I would encourage you to stay strong and stick to that method.

If you are at your wits end or have been down this road many times before, I would certainly recommend having him meet with a child psychologist. These types of problems can occur for many reasons, and a child psychologist should be able to help you get to the bottom of this, as well as give you a better understanding how to help Mitchell after having met with him. From what you described, I would not assume that Mitchell has any serious problems, and there is a very high liklihood that with the right support and approach he will get through this phase.

I definitely wish you and your son the best with all of this. If there's anything else I can do to help just let me know.

I will tell you that...the things you have to go through to be an Expert are quite rigorous.

What Customers are Saying:

I can go as far as to say it could have resulted in saving my sons life and our entire family now knows what bipolar is and how to assist and understand my most wonderful son, brother and friend to all who loves him dearly.
Thank you very muchCorrie MollPretoria, South Africa

I can go as far as to say it could have resulted in saving my sons life and our entire family now knows what bipolar is and how to assist and understand my most wonderful son, brother and friend to all who loves him dearly.
Thank you very muchCorrie MollPretoria, South Africa

I thank-you so much! It really helped to have this information and
confirmation. We will watch her carefully and get her in for the
examination and US right away if things do not improve. God bless you as
well! ClaudiaAlbuquerque, NM

Outstanding response time less than 6 minutes. Answered the question professionally and with a great deal of compassion. KevinBeaverton, OR

Suggested diagnosis was what I hoped and will take this info to my doctor's appointment next week.I feel better already! Thank you.ElanorTracy, CA

Thank you to the Physician who answered my question today. The answer was far more informative than what I got from the Physicians I saw in person for my problem.JulieLockesburg, AR

You have been more help than you know. I seriously don't know what my sisters situation would be today if you had not gone above and beyond just answering my questions. John and StefanieTucson, AZ

I have been dealing with an extremely serious health crisis for over three years, and one your physicians asked me more questions, gave me more answers and encouragement than a dozen different doctors who have been treating me!! Janet VPhoenix, AZ

Ask a Mental Health Professional

Get a Professional Answer. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.

98 Mental Health Professionals are Online Now

Type Your Mental Health Question Here...

characters left:

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.